Ended up getting the Smashing Pumpkin's new album "Oceania" today and, secretly, I've been really looking forward to this release. "Oceania" feels like the Smashing Pumpkins album we've been waiting for since "Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness," but has little to do with that epic double album. Instead, "Oceania" feels like a conglomeration of the good parts from the other albums while retaining a since of melody and cohesiveness. It is both familiar and current, with pleasing surprises rather than jarring ones.

I'd say the album is most closely related to Billy Corgan's one-time project, Zwan, and their album "Mary Star of the Sea" --an album largely overlooked, but pretty darn good.

"Oceania" is not the angst-ridden, arena ready powerhouse of "Siamese Dream" but brief glimpses of those muscular guitars are present. It's a more mature album by Mr. Corgan who seems to have learned to embrace his musical past rather than try to violent rip himself away from the familiar building blocks.

I'm interested to see how the new album holds up to multiple listens, but, so far, it's like a breath of relief for Smashing Pumpkins fans of old.

Ended up getting the Smashing Pumpkin's new album "Oceania" today ... so far, it's like a breath of relief for Smashing Pumpkins fans of old.

Well, that's encouraging!

Maybe they were inspired by the Silversun Pickups, who have been doing Smashing Pumpkins-style rock for a few years now, much better than the Pumpkins themselves had been doing for quite a while, as you noted.

You moonlighting as a professional record reviewer? If not, you could.

I may have to get that old Zwan album. I've considered it a few times. Sean, do you have Hole's Celebrity Skin? Corgan produced a few of the songs, and it has always been one of my favorite albums of that genre.

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"The Universe is the game of the self, which plays hide and seek forever and ever" - Alan Watts

Gotye is amazing. He's a lone Aussie (well, with a producer) and no non-vocal sound on that recording is a live instrument. They're all samples. Track #8's lyrics wittily describe exactly what he's doing and the specific hot new studio equipment he's doing it with. Very cool. There are 2 previous CD's that are rather difficult to find. Great sounding record, too!

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LIFE ALERT is God's way of saying, "I called, but someone else picked-up."

Ended up getting the Smashing Pumpkin's new album "Oceania" today and, secretly, I've been really looking forward to this release. "Oceania" feels like the Smashing Pumpkins album we've been waiting for since "Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness," but has little to do with that epic double album. Instead, "Oceania" feels like a conglomeration of the good parts from the other albums while retaining a since of melody and cohesiveness. It is both familiar and current, with pleasing surprises rather than jarring ones.

I'd say the album is most closely related to Billy Corgan's one-time project, Zwan, and their album "Mary Star of the Sea" --an album largely overlooked, but pretty darn good.

"Oceania" is not the angst-ridden, arena ready powerhouse of "Siamese Dream" but brief glimpses of those muscular guitars are present. It's a more mature album by Mr. Corgan who seems to have learned to embrace his musical past rather than try to violent rip himself away from the familiar building blocks.

I'm interested to see how the new album holds up to multiple listens, but, so far, it's like a breath of relief for Smashing Pumpkins fans of old.

Thanks for that, Sean. It's great that you took the time to think about it and write about it. I hate Billy Corgan, so your insight meant nothing to me, but I enjoyed reading your review anyway.

One teaches by example. I hope your nifty and much appreciated effort teaches others here that they pale next to you. And that could be pale, indeed! (We've never met, but I'm gonna stick my neck out here and assume you are very, very white.)

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LIFE ALERT is God's way of saying, "I called, but someone else picked-up."